Zim coke dealers admit guilt

TWO Zimbabwean nationals who were arrested in Windhoek almost five months ago for dealing in cocaine and cannabis are to be sentenced in the Windhoek Regional Court today.

Privillage Zindere (26) and Shenzira Ncube (31) admitted guilt on two charges of illegal drug dealing before Magistrate Christie Mostert on Monday. They admitted that on March 22 in Windhoek they dealt in some 185 grams of cocaine, valued at about N$92 500, as well as 6,21 kilogrammes of dagga, valued at about N$18 630.The two women were arrested after they had been trapped in a Police operation in which they sold the drugs to an undercover Police officer, their defence lawyer, André Louw, told the Magistrate when he addressed him on the sentence that is to be imposed on the women.Louw said Zindere – a mother of two small children, including a baby who was born in May, while she was in Police custody – and Ncube – a widowed mother of three children, of whom the youngest is disabled – had both arrived in Namibia during February.Because of the dire economic situation in their native Zimbabwe, neither of them was working in that country, Louw said.They came to Namibia aiming to sell crafts and other goods that they brought from Zimbabwe, he related.In Namibia, though, they met a South African who was a drug dealer and who befriended them.Having made that acquaintance, the two women were approached by someone who told them he was interested in buying some drugs, Louw said.What they did not know at that stage was that this person was a Police informant, and that a trap was being set for them.The two women ended up acting as a go-between for the South African dealer and the Police informer, and eventually met the informant at a pre-arranged place in the city on March 22, Louw said.Another person was with the informer in a vehicle.Unbeknown to the women, this person was a Police officer.A deal was struck at the vehicle, money was shown to Ncube, and she then phoned the pregnant Zindere, who brought the drugs to the car and delivered it – straight into the policeman’s hands.Louw asked the Magistrate to seriously consider sentencing Zindere and Ncube to a fine rather than a prison term.Although it will be with some difficulty, they will be able to raise N$5 000 each to pay a fine, he said.Public Prosecutor Brownwell Uirab however argued that the court should try to emphasise a message of deterrence by imposing direct terms of imprisonment.The court can take into account the difficult situation that had driven the women from Zimbabwe, but it should also be careful not to send out a message that people leaving Zimbabwe will be tolerated if they come to Namibia to make a living off crime, he said.Zindere and Ncube have been in custody since their arrest.Zindere’s baby is confined to a cell with her.They admitted that on March 22 in Windhoek they dealt in some 185 grams of cocaine, valued at about N$92 500, as well as 6,21 kilogrammes of dagga, valued at about N$18 630.The two women were arrested after they had been trapped in a Police operation in which they sold the drugs to an undercover Police officer, their defence lawyer, André Louw, told the Magistrate when he addressed him on the sentence that is to be imposed on the women.Louw said Zindere – a mother of two small children, including a baby who was born in May, while she was in Police custody – and Ncube – a widowed mother of three children, of whom the youngest is disabled – had both arrived in Namibia during February.Because of the dire economic situation in their native Zimbabwe, neither of them was working in that country, Louw said.They came to Namibia aiming to sell crafts and other goods that they brought from Zimbabwe, he related.In Namibia, though, they met a South African who was a drug dealer and who befriended them.Having made that acquaintance, the two women were approached by someone who told them he was interested in buying some drugs, Louw said.What they did not know at that stage was that this person was a Police informant, and that a trap was being set for them.The two women ended up acting as a go-between for the South African dealer and the Police informer, and eventually met the informant at a pre-arranged place in the city on March 22, Louw said.Another person was with the informer in a vehicle.Unbeknown to the women, this person was a Police officer.A deal was struck at the vehicle, money was shown to Ncube, and she then phoned the pregnant Zindere, who brought the drugs to the car and delivered it – straight into the policeman’s hands.Louw asked the Magistrate to seriously consider sentencing Zindere and Ncube to a fine rather than a prison term.Although it will be with some difficulty, they will be able to raise N$5 000 each to pay a fine, he said.Public Prosecutor Brownwell Uirab however argued that the court should try to emphasise a message of deterrence by imposing direct terms of imprisonment.The court can take into account the difficult situation that had driven the women from Zimbabwe, but it should also be careful not to send out a message that people leaving Zimbabwe will be tolerated if they come to Namibia to make a living off crime, he said.Zindere and Ncube have been in custody since their arrest.Zindere’s baby is confined to a cell with her.